Project Manager Fruit 60%

For our plant division, we are looking for a

Project Manager Fruit (60%)

starting on 1 March 2027 or by arrangement.

Together with a network of breeders and variety managers, the Schweizerische Stiftung ProSpecieRara is committed to the preservation, promotion, and sustainable use of rare vegetable, fruit, berry, and ornamental plant varieties as well as livestock breeds. The headquarters is located in Wildegg AG.

The preservation of genetic diversity as the basis of our nutrition is important to you, and you feel particularly connected to the diversity of fruit varieties. Especially in the current context of climate change, trees play an indispensable role in agriculture and settlements.
You are a team player, flexible, independent, communicative, proactive, eager to learn, sociable, and you take great pleasure in participatory work in networks. You contribute to these with enthusiasm, prudence, and a sense for the whole, committed to the cultivated diversity of fruit varieties and fruit types. Your heart beats for regional varieties and their unique cultural-historical heritage.

You are responsible for the following tasks:y

• Project management Red List Fruit/ annual selection of varieties urgently needing protection, information, organization and shipping of plant material. Documentation of varieties and advice to interested variety conservators.
• Project management Scion Garden/ assortment development and cleaning up the stock of over 500 rare fruit varieties. Shipping of scions to interested parties. Data updates in the national database PGREL-NIS.
• Mediation and clarification of variety knowledge through molecular genetic analyses as well as internal and external exchange among fruit experts and pomologists.
• Support for our fruit variety conservators and updating their variety stock. This includes smaller and larger fruit gardens with up to 400 varieties.
• Consulting for rare fruit varieties with a focus on settlement areas.
• Data processing and completing variety information and tree stocks in our plant database.
• Project management Table Fruit Project in cooperation with partner institutions.
• Regular project management work with reports and accounting as well as project development and acquisition.
• Information on varieties and subject matter topics as well as lectures, tours, and text contributions for publications and media inquiries.

You bring with you:

• Education at Bachelor or Master level, preferably with an agronomic or biological background
• Professional or private experience in fruit research, fruit growing, or with historical fruit varieties
• Flair for the cultural history of fruit varieties and motivation for their repositioning in today's environment
• Native German language, English and French skills in speaking and writing, preferably also Italian skills
• Good IT skills and experience working with databases (Filemaker)
• Independent and responsible working style
• Coordination and organizational talent
• High social competence and ability to work in a team

You will find with us a varied activity in an NGO with annual working hours as well as the opportunity to help shape and develop your area. You are part of a dedicated, active team at our headquarters in Wildegg, where you will work the main part of your workload. Part of the workload can also be completed in the home office (max. 1 day/week).

Contact person for further information/ Philipp Holzherr, Co-Head of Plant Division,
Tel. 061 545 99 23 (Mon to Thu).

Please send your complete application documents (CV incl. salary expectations, certificates, cover letter) by 11 October 2026 at the latest in electronic form to/ ProSpecieRara, Nadja Kalmbach-Wyss, hr@prospecierara.ch.

The application interviews will take place on 5 and 12 November, or on 17 and 18 November 2026.

We look forward to your application!